Embark on a captivating journey with us to explore the mysterious ruins of Dilkusha Kothi in Lucknow. Uncovering the secrets of the past of this royal palace is great fun for a writer. Nawabi Dilkusha Kothi located in Lucknow has a rich history and heritage of architecture. So join us as we uncover the truth.
Let us take you on today’s journey to the Bibiyapur area of Lucknow city, on the banks of river Gomti, where there is very beautiful Kothi ‘Dilkusha Kothi’. It is said that this Kothi is one of the beautiful monuments of the historical city of Lucknow.
Today, when only its ruins are left, just by looking at those ruins you can say how beautiful this palace must have been in its days. It is said that British actress Mary Linley Taylor was very impressed by the beauty of this mansion. He named his house built in Seoul as Dilkusha.
She said, “From the moment I first saw Dilkusha, the palace of heart’s joy, in India, I dreamed of this moment when I would name my home ‘Dilkusha’.”
Who built Dilkusha Kothi in Lucknow?
Dilkusha Kothi located in Lucknow was constructed during the reign of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan (1797-1814 AD) in the traditional English Baroque style with Lakhauri bricks and was plastered and decorated with lime mortar.
Dilkusha Kothi in Lucknow : Lakhauri, Badshahi or Kakaiya bricks, were thin-coloured baked clay bricks that were very popular during the Mughal period and were used in building construction, especially in Mughal architecture from the Shahjahan period to the 20th century. This continued until the beginning of the century when these and their contemporary Nanakshahi bricks were replaced by Ghumma bricks by the British Raj.
Nawab Saheb’s friend British Resident Gore Ousely had prepared the draft of Dilkusha Kothi. Its design is inspired by Sitan Delaval Hall in Northumberland (England).
Dilkusha Kothi in Lucknow : This building was a hunting ground as well as a summer retreat for the Nawabs of Awadh. The corners of this palace were equipped with minarets, in which there were winding stairs. Along with the winding stairs, a grand staircase was built to reach the main entrance.
Later, Nawab Nasir-ud-din Haider (1827-37 AD) made changes in this palace according to his interest. He built another grand palace in its north-eastern direction, of which only ruins remain. The main part of this mansion is attractive. This grand building built in European style was also constructed with Lakhori bricks and lime mortar and was plastered with thick lime.
Dilkusha Kothi in Lucknow : Some people believe that in the initial years of his rule, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah had constructed this building and got the ground cleared for military practice of his entire military battalions.
The British expressed their objection to his work and asked the Nawab to stop the practice completely. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah rejected it. well! Whatever the case may be, it played a major role in the first freedom struggle of 1857. The British forces captured this palace and used it as their headquarters.
British Major General Sir Henry Havelock breathed his last in this cell on 24 November 1857 after suffering from dysentery. Over time, this building has become uninhabited and dilapidated due to not being in use.
Dilkusha Kothi in Lucknow : There are also two mausoleums in the Dilkusha memorial complex. Both the tombs are of British military officers. The first mausoleum is that of Lieutenant Charles Keith Dashwood, a military officer of the Eighteenth Bengal Native Infantry Regiment, the third son of Lieutenant Colonel A.W. Dashwood. He died at the age of 19 on November 22, 1857, in Dilkusha Kothi in the battle with the revolutionaries during the First War of Independence.
The second mausoleum is that of Lieutenant W. Paul, a military officer of the 4th Punjab Rifles, who was sent to help the British army under the leadership of Major General Sir Colin Campbell, KCB during the First War of Independence. He was killed in the battle between army troops and revolutionaries at Sikandarbagh on November 16, 1857. This memento was produced by his fellow officers of the 4th Punjab Rifles.
Lucknow city is called the city of Nawabs. Nawabi is the pride and glory of this place. What to say about etiquette, refinement and elegance. Rome resides in Rome. Along with ruling here, the Nawabs built many beautiful and unique buildings. After that, hardly any buildings of that type were constructed here. All buildings had their distinct style of architecture.
✒ Manish Verma ‘Manu’
